Meet Jay Smiley

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay Smiley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jay , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

Growing up, I had a big imagination; I still do. So, I had this sense there was a way to become better and to create better things. However, I didn’t always see myself accurately. I often struggled with a lower self esteem and didn’t believe that I was the one to create great things.

Thankfully I had parents that believed that I could do great things and thus become a great person. I think It was their optimism and faith in God that often translated to me believing that there were always better things ahead. There is an old saying that goes “This too shall pass” and I’m often reminded of that. Even if things seem absolutely impossible, I’m optimistic that things can change.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve had this desire to tell stories. There was a deep sense of connection I got from it. I wrote short stories, built entire cities with legos and did a lot of road trips and adventures with my family. All the while being introduced to a ton of movies at home.

As I got older, I became curious with how my stories could look on screen. That curiosity turned into questions, that turned into conversations, and the latter sparked imagination.

Fast forward to College, I knew I had to make movies and create visual stories. Eventually, I was approached by a friend of mine who was interested in me filming his sisters wedding. Initially I thought “I don’t want to be responsible for someones memories”. I thought “I’m not the one for that”, but later it became “why not me?” I wrestled with it for a while and filmed their wedding a couple of weeks later!

Filming that wedding was my first experience into capturing someones life in real time, with the understanding it could be passed down for generations. I continued to do this for other friends as they got married and soon I began getting clients outside of my friend group.

Now a decade later, I’ve had the opportunity to capture hundreds of wedding and a few documentaries in between. When it comes to creating wedding films, I focus on the couple and their story: How they’ve started, Where they’re headed, and what they’re about. I believe that a wedding film is not just a recap of the day, but the beginning of a long story that the couple can pass down through the generations of their families.

I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft and better serve my clients and the stories that need to be told. In the spring of 2026, I’m hoping to create more documentaries that follow the lives of Triathletes and their journey’s to approaching enormous endeavors. That’s including me, as I prepare for my second Marathon in May of 2026!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think over the last several years, there have been a few key skills and qualities that I’ve developed. First, I’ve learned how to adapt. Granted, I think I’ve always been adaptable to either changing landscapes or circumstances. During COVID, I was within my first year of business and just about everything shut down; weddings were the first things to go. I think in that moment, I had one other client that was a church and they needed to live stream to keep their congregation connected during quarantine.

I livestreamed one service for them, then two, and then the next 18 months. It was one of the things that helped survive the pandemic.

No one knew how long the pandemic would last, certainly not the guy who just started a business. However, I think it was that movement that I truly learned how to adapt and pivot. I think it was recognizing the current opportunities around me, big or small, and seeing what I could do with them.

That leads into my next skill, observation. As a filmmaker, I’m constantly observing things, even when I don’t want to. It’s something I often do. Filming wedding and documentaries commands that you observe the world around you. I think observation has taught me to consider the small things as inspiration, or even as lessons for growing.

Lastly, Patience is one of the most important skills I’ve learned over the years. It is difficult to learn how to run a business without learning how to be patient in the process. Often, there are times when business doesn’t go as expected: Cashflow maybe slow, progress may take a few steps, or a project may fall through.

With the constant changes that can happen in business or any endeavor, learning to be patient as the up and downs come is important. Just understanding that things can take time has helped me to grow in patience. I think my best advice for anyone early in their journey of their endeavors is to be open to what opportunities may happen along the way. This doesn’t mean say “Yes” to everything, but things into consideration. You never know where it may lead you.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

I recently finished my first Marathon back in June. I spent about 4 to 5 months training for it. Before marathon, I completed the 75 hard challenge. I mention both of these not boast, but to share both of these endeavor helped me grow in endurance. In the last year, I’ve learned how to endure, physically and spiritually.

I think this has taught me to keep moving through the hard things and never settle for “I can’t”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jaysmileyfilms.com
• Instagram: @jaysmiley.co

Image Credits

Headshot (black and white) – Tara Nichole Photography